Registering device for passenger-conveying vehicles.



E. V. JAGKA.

EEGISTERING DEVICE EUR PASSENGER. CONVEYING VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22,1909.

Patented Aug. l0, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

[I we 11 Vo r E. V. JAOKA. EECISTERINC DEVICE ECE PASSENGER CONVEYINGVEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.22,1909.

no; 9M .w 1E ab uw M, EN Mm U dz u. w .w nm H P C iw .L l w 5 W 4 PE l OWM. n0 o 9 @E EDGAR V. -`JACKA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

REGISTERIN G DEVICE FOR PASSENGER-CONVEYING VEHICLES.

Specification of LettersPatent.

vPatented aug. io, 190e.

Application filed April 22, 1909. Serial No. 491,539.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Encan. V. JACKE, a citizen of the United States, andresident of New York, borough of Manhattan, county Cit and State of NewYork, have made a new and useful Invention in Registering Devices forPassenger-Conveying Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is directed particularly to novel means for preventing theattendants, drivers or chauffeurs of vehicles, such as buses, taxicabsand the like, from making false returns as to passenger conveyance ormileage receipts at the end of the days service, and has an especialadaptabilityfor use with registering or indicating devices knowngenerally in the art as taximeters, in

. which the daily mileage the vehicle actually ltravels is continuouslyrecorded or indicated on a dial of one face of the instrument and eitherthe time, the mileage, or both; or, the actual fare charged to thepassenger on a second er individual `dial of another lface of theinstrument when a passenger is being conveyed from place to place.

To this' end my invention has for its object, the bringing about ofthese results without error through the combined acts of theattendant'or employee, as-a driver or chauffeur, and the passengerhimself, such acts being so correlated that when a passenger enters orremains within the Vehicle, if the I driver or chauffeur does notperform a certam act which will cause the passenger register of theindicator to properly register when the vehicle is traveling, this factwill be made apparent, both to the attendant and passenger and also toother persons in the immediate vicinity, if an alarm be used, as thevehicle is mov-ing about.

My invention will be fully understood by referring to the accompanyingdrawings, in which,

Figure l represents a well known form of cab of the auto type with ataXimeter closely adjacent tothe chaufeurs seat, and

my improvement as applied thereto, the details of the structural partsof the apparatus automatically .actuated by the presence of a passengerwhen in the cab being shown partly in sectional view and partly in sideelevational view and under the seat of the vehicle, the connectionstherewith between the same and the taXimeter being shown in full anddotted lines. an enlarged part elevational, part sec- F ig. Q representstional view of the details of my improvement and the interconnectionsthereof, as between the seat of the vehicle and the indicating signal ofthe taximeter proper.

'Fig'. 3 represents a plan view of the top of the seat with the cushionremoved, illust-rating also lthe manner of locking or vholding the seatso as to prevent the driver or chauffeur from tampering orl interferingwith the operative parts of the mechanism automatically controlled bythe presence of the passenger in the cab.

Existing forms of taximeters as utilized by taXicab companies''throughout the United States are so constructed that during the timethat the vehicle is moving about from placeto place there is given onone dial of the instrument a continuous indication of the mileagetraveled through the interconnection of gear mechanism controlled by thewheels of the vehicle. These devices are all securely sealed in a easingand also so con structed that when there is no passenger' using thevehicle the taXimeter flag or indicator stands in a definite position,as vertically, giving indication of the fact that the cab is vacant ornot 'in service, and the relations between the staff of the aforesaid-iag and theinternal mechanism of the taxregistering devices by failingto turn down the indicator flag when the cab is occupied, thuspreventing the operation of the passenger registering or indicatingmechanism when there is a passenger being transported from place toplace. Then the passenger laves the vehicle, therefore, the driver orchauffeur makes a charge for the distance traveled and pockets thereceipts` or so much `of the same as he deems safe or expedient,

which receipts, of course, have not been indicated on the indicator.

My' invention has for its-object, to defeat this fraudulent proceedingron the part of drivers or chauffeurs and l accomplish the result byproviding means whereby the presrepresent like parts wherever used, acab of the auto type is shown, 1n which l reprei ywhere it isoperatively connected in a manl ing driven by the wheels of the vehicle.The

. as to be absolutely inaccessible to the driver ence of a passengerwithin the cab or vehicle i makes it imperative on the part of thedriver or chauffeur to turn down or shift the indicator iiag in suchmanner as to connect the passenger indicating mechanism, such meansbeing so airanged that in the event of his failure so to do a continuousalarm will be sounded, or some portion of the operative parts of the cabor vehicle will be put out of commission, as, for instance, the ruptureof the sparking circuit of the driving engine when of the explosivetype; the putting on of the brakes; the rupture ofthe power circuit inelectrically operated vehicles; in short, the producing of such aneffect or result as will make it imperative on the part of the attendantor chauffeur' to do what he is called upon to do; namely, connect up thepassenger registering mechanism when a passenger enters or is using thevehicle.

Referring now to the drawings in detail in all of which like numerals ofreference seiits any well known form of taxiineter, such as isliereinbefore referred to, and 2 the indicator flag, 3 being the staffthereof pivoted to a shaft L1 extending into the inclosing casing of thetaximeter in the usual way ner well known by those versed in the art, tomechanism for connecting up the passenger registering or indicatingmechanismi when the flag is turned to its downward position, asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Such taximeters are usuallysupported upon an angle iron 25 connected to the front end of thevehicle and are driven by a flexible shaft 23 extending downward througha hollow sleeve 22 and connected with gearregistering dials are plainlyvisible to the passenger so that he may at all times'notc the distancetraveled or the charge for time of service. I

`That feature of my improvement which is operatively connected with thetaximeter proper consists in applying directly to the shaft 4, through acollar or otherwise and inside of the box, a downwardly extendingcontact arm 5, the lower end f which makes good sliding electricalcontact with a curvilinear contact plate 6 secured against, butinsulated from, an inner wall of the box.

7 and 8 represent respectively insulated electrical' conductors runningone from the shaft 4 and the other from the contact plate G downward toand through a flexible armored conduit 9 which is secured within the boxby a collar and set-screw, as shown, so

or chauffeur. This conduit, which may constitute one branch/of thecontrol circuit, 7, 8, is securely fastened upon the licor of thevehicle by eyes, not shown, but preferably closely adjacent to one ofthe sills, and extends backward in the manner shown in dotted lines,Fig. 1, to the rear of the vehicle, where it passes upward and issecured by a second collar and set-screw within the body 10 of thcvehicle and beneath the seat., so as to be also wholly inaccessible tothe chauffeur of the vehicle, the conductors 7 and 8 passing within thechamber below the seat of the vehicle, as clearly shown.

11 represents a relatively strong rectangular shaped movable scatfitting accurately within the upper partof the body 10, and 12 is thecushion therefor.

13 represents a false bottoni of substantially the same contour or shapeas the seat 11 and removably secured thereunder directly within the bodyl0.

17, 17, 17 represent a series of strongl spiral springs adapted toyieldingly support the seat in its upper position and 14 represents ametallic frame preferably of steel and of relatively the same dimensionsas the outer dimensions of the seat 11, said frame being provided withhinges 15, 15 secured at the rear inside the body 10 and provided on thefront side with downwardly extending slotted lugs 16, 16 adapted, whenthe parts are in position, to tit over loops or eyes in the front faceof the body and which ai'e iii turn adapted to be secured by pad locks,as shown in Fig. 1.

18, 18 18 represent stationary metallic contacts connected together by`wires or conductors as shown and secured at various points ,on the undeisurface of the seat 11, and 19, 19, 19 represent corresponding flexibleor yielding contacts secured directly to the upper surface of theremovable false bottom 13, said contacts being in alinement respectivelywith the upper contacts 18, 18 but normally held out of contacttherewith by the strong spiral springs 17, 17, 17.

24 represents a strong box which is adapted to be secured directlyto thebottom of the vehicle in any preferred manner and which in turn containsa battery 20 securely fastened therein and an electro-magneticallycontrolled device illustrated as a gong or bell 21, secured also to theinner wall of said box. All of the contacts 18 are connected togetherand in turn connected directly to one pole of the battery 20 which inturn is connected through the bell Q1 to the conductor 7. All of thefixed contacts 19 are similarly connected together and to the conductor8. In assembling the parts under the seat of the vehicle, the box 24eand its inclosed battery and electroinotive device or bell 21. arepermanently secured directly to the floor. The false bottoni 13 is thenslipped into place with that conductor extending from the battery 2Opassing therethrough, which in turn is secured to one of LLM.

body 10 and the outer edges of the seat 11'.

thereby preventing any possibility ot' the driver or chauffeurtampering` with or in any wa" preventing Ythe operation ot that' partot' the apliaratus controlled by the presence ot' a passenger whenseated. The cash ion 1Q is then put iii place and the indicator tiag lset so as to stand in the position shown in both Figs. 1 and 2, thecircuits being noi'- mally open bctween the contacts 1S and 19, f

but closed between the contacts 5 and 6 in the taxnneter box, so thatthe electroinotivc device or bell i1 is out of action and, the

battery 2t) on normally open circuit.

The operation is as followsVVhen a passenger enters the vehicle andseats himself upon the cushion 12, the circuit is immediately closedbetween the fixed and movable contacts 18 and 19 through the battery 20and bell 21, and in the event of the driver or chaufteur not havingturned theindicator Hag 2 down into the position shown in dotted lines lthe circuit will be closed from the battery and bell through theconductors 7 and 8 by way ot the contact arm 5 and curvilinear contactplate 6, so that the bell 21 will continue to ring until the chautteureffects the rotation of the tiag into the position shown in dottedlines, when the circuit will be broken between the arm 5 and contact G,at the same time connecting up the indicating mechanism in the mannerhereinbe- 'tore referred to so that as long as the vehicle continues to4move, or as long as the pas senger continues seated, there willl be noalarm given by the bell 21 and the passengcr`s tare or mileage will besimultaneously recorded with the continuous vehicle mileage.

It willbc apparent that by no possibility can a lpassenger remain seatedin the cab and not give an alarm, unlessthe indicator flag 2 be turnedto the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 2. It will also be apparentthat with such a structural arrangement I am enabled to give a correctindication of the fare registrable and time of service at all times,with the minimum application of electrical energy, it being obvious thatthe battery 20 is never put into use when the vcorrect indications areetitecteththereby making it possible to utilize a battery of relativelysmall capacity for a relatively great length of time. ltis obvious thatthe electrical energy applied to the electro-magnet plate ot themagnetically controlled bell 21 might be utilized in various ways toettect the result hereinbefore described and thus avoid any possibilityof a driver or chautt'eur defeating the purpose of the use of thetaximeterzas, for instance, the controlling magnet might be utilized ina manner obvious to those skilled in the art to interrupt the sparkingcircuit of an explosive engine by including the armature of such magnetdirectly in such sparking circuit, so that when the circuit is closedthrough the arm 5 and curvilinear contact plate (3 of the taximeter andthe contacts 1S and 19 simultaneously closed by the presence ot' vapassenger the sparking-etiect upon the explosive engine would benullified and the car cannot pro ceed. Obviously also the armature ofthe controlling magnet might be utilized to apply the brakes upon a'vehicle; or to interrupt the power circuit of an electrically operatedvehicle. In fact, my invention contemplates generically the utilizationot electromagnetic means controlled directly by thc enters the cab `asto prevent movement there-4 of, or give an alarm indication of thewrongful act of the driver or chauffeur, until he shall have done whatthe requirements of the case necessitate7 the generic essence of i myinvention lying in the utilization of an electrical circuit controlledat two points; namely, open at one point, under one condition of usage,and simultaneously closed at the other; and subsequently closed at thefirst- ,nained point and open at the second, when a passenger enters thevehicle, the arrangement being such that the attendant, driver orchauffeur, is absolutely obligated to effect the proper change in hisindicating flag before he can legitimately proceed with his passenger.

I am aware that it has been proposed to mechanically control theoperation of a pasf-ienger registering mechanism by the presence ot' apassenger seated in a vehicle through the agency of, a nuvable seat andseries ot' levers which release the registering mechanism whenthepassenger is seated., which registering mechanism continues to operateso long as he remains seated, and t malte no claim hereinafter broadenough to include such structural devices, my invention being distinctlydirected to the automatic control ot a taximeter registering devicewhich requires the joint action of the chautteur and the presence ot'the passenger llO to effect the necessary change for the purpose ofgiving a full indication or record of the service rendered to suchpassenger.

do not vlimit my invention to the specific structural arrangement.hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawings for ellectingthe result'sought, as obviously the means actuated by the passenger iorclosingv the control circuit mightbe etlected or controlled in variousWays, such as would readily suggest themselves toithose versed inthe art(if/utilizing means for normally `maintalning an electrical circuit openunder one condition of'alfairs, such as the vabsence of the passengerfrom the vehicley andv closing ot' the same through they presence ofsuch passenger, either as he enters the vehicle or during the time heremains therein. Nor do I limit my invention to use-with kwheeledvehicles, such as taXicabs, buses, or the like,

as obviously the same may be utilized in:

connection with sleighs, motor-boats, or in fact with any type otlvehicle or conveyance adapted to transport passengers for a fare orconsideration from point to point, which vehicles are operated by anemployee, attendant, or other person upon whom it is incumbent to givecertain definite indications as` means, in the nature of un alarmoperativelyv connected with the indicator and with the interior of theconveyance whereby, through the joint actio`n of the attendant and apas-v senger inside of the conveyance an alarm will be sounded it acorrect registration of the service rendered be not effected,substantially as described.

2. In a passenger conveyance or vehicle a taxiineter provided with anindicator adapted to show if the conveyance be occupied or vacant;electrical connections between the indicator, an electrical generator,'and` an electro-magnetically controlled device, all located within theinterior of the conveyance; together with a circuit controlleroperatively connected with the seatand adapted to be actuated by apassenger when seated in the vehicle, the arrangement being `such thatunless the attendant sets his vindicator to show that the vehicle isengaged. the electromotive device will be actuated When the conveyanceis occupied, and both he and thev passenger made aware ofthe fact thathe has not properly setthe register ot' thetaximeter, substantially asdescribed.

3. ln ataXicab a seat provided With yielding normally open electricalconnections located beneath the same; an indicator for disclosingwhether or not the cab is occupied; a taximeter operatively connectedwith said indicator; a battery and an electromagnetically controlleddevice connected in circuit therewith; in combination with conductorsextending therefrom through -an armored tube or conduit to the interiorof the taximeter; together with a circuitinterrupter or switchoperatively connectedl With the indicator and adapted to be actuated insuch a manner as to permanently break the` circuit when said indicatoris set so as to show that the cab is occupied, substantially asdescribed.

- LL. A cab provided with a taXimeter, an electrical generator and anelectromagnetically controlled device for giving Warning of the properaction of the registering mechanism of the taximeter; together with anelectrical circuit extending from the interior ot' the taximeter to saidelectro-magnetically controlled device;- in combination with tWo circuitcontrollers in such circuit, one located inside the taximeter and theotherbeneath the seat of the cab, the circuit relations being suoli thatwhen the cab is occupied and the register of the taxin'ieter set foraction the circuit is closed beneath thc seat and broken within thetaximeter, substantially as described.

5. ln a cab a taximeter having all of its registering parts sealed up;an electrical circuit controller loeated inside the casing andoperatively connected to the shaft of the taxinieter signal; a pair ofelectrical conductors extending :troni said circuit controller throughan armored conduit or tube to thc interior of a closed chamber locatedbeneath a removable seat yieldingly sustained.; iii-.combination withmeans for lonking` said seat in its-normal orclosed position; togetherwith an electrical generator and an electroniagnetically controlledalarm, all-inclosed beneath 'the seat and connected to the aforesaidcircuit, the circuit being open beneath the seat and closed Within thetaximeter casing when the cab is unoccupied, substantially as described.

Iii-testimony'whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDGAR V. JACKA.

VV'tnesses:

C. J. KINTNER, M.- F. KEATIXG.

